Many patients walk into our clinic with pre-existing information about dental implants. However, what stands out is their understanding that dental implants mimic the look, feel, and fit of natural teeth. The realism associated with dental implants also extends to their functionality because they restore your ability to bite, chew, and speak in the same way you do with natural teeth. Our dentist at Stuart Family Dentistry can take you through the dental implant placement process to resolve most of your dental concerns. What Is Dental Implant Restoration?
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implant restoration is what you need to bring back your smile. This process uses an implant, abutment, and a crown to restore missing teeth. The primary goal for dental implant restoration is to replace a missing tooth with a long-lasting, durable, and stable solution. These qualities are possible with the dental implant procedure.
At our practice, we perform dental implant restoration by surgically inserting the dental implant into the jawbone, with significant attention paid to its position. Our dentist then uses an abutment as the connector to secure the implant and restore the dental crown.
How Dental Implant Placement Works as a Treatment Process
If you are interested in dental implant restoration, you will start by making arrangements to visit our practice. During the first meeting, our dentist will examine whether your jawbone is strong enough for a restoration process. If not, our dentist will suggest that you undergo a bone grafting procedure, especially when you have significant bone loss. Our dentist will also check if you need to undergo treatment for periodontal disease before dental implant placement.
Once the jaw is ready, our dentist will then start the dental restoration process. Jaw preparation is critical because a dental implant must be placed, healed, and fused with the jawbone for restoration.
What to Expect When Getting a Dental Implant Restoration
Dental implant restoration is a process that provides patients with several options for restoring lost teeth. At Stuart Family Dentistry, we prioritize patient input to determine the most suitable application of their dental implants. Patients have the flexibility to use their implant as a foundation for various dental prosthetics, including a crown, bridge, or dentures. The decision largely hinges on the extent of tooth loss they have experienced. For instance, replacing a single tooth typically involves fitting a crown, while those who have lost multiple teeth may find a dental implant-supported denture to be a more appropriate solution.
Additionally, we offer our patients the option to select the material for their dental restoration, ensuring it meets their personal preferences and needs. Most patients prefer porcelain crowns when they want to replace single teeth because of their aesthetics. The porcelain material is white and translucent, just like natural teeth. However, our dentist will work to match the crown color to your tooth color to ensure a final look that appears natural.
When to Consider a Dental Implant Restoration
Ideally, anyone missing a tooth or several teeth should consider dental implant placement. However, the surgical procedure best suits a person with good oral health. You must be strong enough to withstand the discomfort of a minor surgical procedure and the recovery period associated with all dental implants.
It is important to note that dental implant restoration is a little more invasive compared to fixed bridges or dentures. However, it is also the only long-term solution that comes with the most minor challenges during its maintenance. Dental implants are fixed and non-removable, meaning they will stay functional longer.
Implants vs Bridges
Many patients who come to our clinic want to know which one of these procedures would work for them best. Our dentist will tell you that implants and bridges are good options for dental restorations. Both processes are suitable, but the differences sometimes relate to your individual needs and preferences.
We recommend you get a dental implant when you want to replace a missing tooth. This recommendation depends on the strength of your jawbone because our dentist will place the dental implant on it using a minor surgical operation.
We can also suggest dental bridges for similar dental issues, but it is a solution that does not involve replacing missing teeth from the root. At its most basic, bridges depend on the strength of surrounding teeth to work. A bridge also uses crowns that are placed over natural teeth to bridge the gap in between.
The main difference between bridges and implants is that implants are permanently embedded into your jaw, while bridges are placed onto your other teeth. Oral care for both is similar, with only extra care to floss under the bridge.
Multiple Tooth Implants
As the name suggests, multiple tooth implants replace several natural teeth. Using implants also means that the teeth replacement process considers restoring the lost teeth from the root, making them look and function as decay-resistant natural teeth. The process is quite complex compared to a single tooth implant. At our practice, we use a computer-guided system to ensure the correct position of each implant in the same way that your natural teeth lined with your jaw.
When you visit us at Stuart Family Dentistry, our dentist will take a detailed image of your jawbone using a 3D X-ray machine. The image will show if you have any jawbone recession and act as a surgical guide for the multiple tooth implant procedure. It could take several months before you heal, but the final result will be that final restoration you needed from the beginning.
Single Tooth Implant
Single-tooth implants mimic the dental implant restoration used in multiple-tooth implants. The only difference between these two is that a single-tooth implant involves the replacement of one tooth. Teeth implants use three components: the implant that works as the post, a connector or the abutment, and the crown that is fashioned to look like natural teeth.
Dental Implants at Stuart Family Dentistry
Dental implants can address many dental issues, including teeth functionality and health problems. If you have more dental implant faqs, do not hesitate to contact us at (772) 266-2223 to schedule an appointment. We will be happy to schedule you for an exam to discuss which dental implants are right for you.